Carter Hawley Hale Stores said Monday that it lost $72.7 million in its second quarter ended Feb. 2, partly because of a $40-million provision for some planned--but unspecified--store closings. Analysts have predicted that Los Angeles-based Carter Hawley--parent of the Broadway and the biggest department store company in the West--would close some unprofitable locations.

Carter Hawley Hale Stores said Monday that it lost $72.7 million in its second quarter ended Feb. 2, partly because of a $40-million provision for some planned--but unspecified--store closings. Analysts have predicted that Los Angeles-based Carter Hawley--parent of the Broadway and the biggest department store company in the West--would close some unprofitable locations.

Carter Hawley Hale Stores confirmed Monday that it will combine its two Northern California department store chains and said the move will free the company to fire 350 employees and save $10 million a year. The merger of the Bay Area's Emporium stores with Sacramento-based Weinstocks is the second major cutback by Carter Hawley since it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy court protection Feb. 11.

Carter Hawley Hale Stores confirmed Monday that it will combine its two Northern California department store chains and said the move will free the company to fire 350 employees and save $10 million a year. The merger of the Bay Area's Emporium stores with Sacramento-based Weinstocks is the second major cutback by Carter Hawley since it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy court protection Feb. 11.